- Keysight Technologies has introduced two 1.6 Tbps Ethernet test platforms designed for validating network equipment and data center infrastructure dedicated to artificial intelligence.
- The SERT 1600GE (Switch and Edge Router Tester) platform targets switch fabrics and edge routers, while the AresONE Plus 1600GE platform adds high-density switching test capabilities and AI workload emulation.
- Both solutions are intended to enable the assessment of performance, interoperability, and network protocol functionality prior to infrastructure deployment.
The AresONE Plus 1600GE platform features eight OSFP1600 ports within a 2U chassis. It delivers an aggregate line-rate throughput of 12.8 Tbps, even when handling 64-byte Ethernet frames. It supports PAM4 encoding over 224 Gbps SerDes links and is compatible with 112G interfaces. The ports can be configured in various arrangements: one 1600GE port, two 800GE ports, four 400GE ports, or eight 200GE ports.
The SERT 1600GE platform also comes in an eight-port configuration housed in a 2U chassis. It is designed for large-scale testing of data center switch fabrics and edge routers. Both platforms support time synchronization via the Precision Time Protocol (PTP), which is particularly relevant for distributed network architectures.
Validation of Protocols and AI Traffic
Both systems allow for the testing of various network protocols and functions, including BGP (Border Gateway Protocol), ECMP (Equal-Cost Multi-Path), and VXLAN (Virtual Extensible LAN), as well as the SONiC network operating system. Testing covers routing, bridging, and access functions. The AresONE Plus platform adds capabilities for core routing testing and control-plane scalability testing.
When paired with Keysight’s AI Data Center Builder software suite, the AresONE Plus 1600GE platform can also emulate artificial intelligence workloads based on “Mixture of Experts” (MoE) architectures. This approach involves distributing processing tasks across several specialized sub-networks—or “experts”—that are engaged based on the specific data being processed. The emulation is designed to replicate data exchanges between computing resources, allowing for the assessment of network behavior under conditions similar to those found in actual AI clusters.
The platform supports technologies such as RoCEv2 (RDMA over Converged Ethernet), PFC (Priority Flow Control), and ECN (Explicit Congestion Notification), as well as specifications from the Ultra Ethernet Consortium (UEC). These mechanisms play a key role in managing traffic flows and congestion within Ethernet networks used for communication between accelerators and servers. Validating these mechanisms alongside emulated workloads helps identify potential congestion issues and performance bottlenecks before deployment.
Various Optical Interfaces and Test Configurations
Both platforms support several types of interconnects, including DAC (Direct Attach Copper), ACC (Active Copper Cable), AEC (Active Electrical Cable), and AOC (Active Optical Cable) cables.
They also support coherent optical interfaces in both IHS (Integrated Heat Sink) and RHS (Rider Heat Sink) form factors. The AresONE Plus 1600GE platform can transition from an eight-port configuration—intended, for instance, for qualifying data center switches—to a four-port configuration for testing AI infrastructure. This adaptability allows a single chassis to be used for various validation scenarios.
Keysight positions this equipment for testing 1.6T Ethernet architectures, specifically those based on Nvidia’s Spectrum-6 switches and the Spectrum-X ecosystem. Testing must encompass both the performance of 1.6T and 800GE links and large-scale routing, as well as the data exchanges associated with AI workloads.
